The Frenchman received a rare start for the Magpies this term and offered the sort of average performance the Toon Army have come to expect from the fringe player - plenty of running with no real quality. An injury to his calf cut his night short, with Emmanuel Riviere replacing him with 16 minutes left on the clock.
Moussa Sissoko - 3
His team-mates were always on the lookout for the powerful Frenchman in order to start an attack. However, when he was able to get on the ball, Sissoko often wasted the ball by trying to play lofted balls in wet and wild conditions that were not suited to that style of football Although looked upon as being an attacking threat, he rarely looks a danger in the final third and tonight was no different.
Jack Colback - 4
Sitting on nine yellow cards for the season, Colback wasn't letting a potential two-game ban change his style of play - fouling time and time again. However, the midfielder failed to get anywhere near close enough to Shaqiri and allowed Stoke's playmaker the time and space required to rifle passed Elliot. Replaced by Seydou Doumbia on 84 minutes as the Magpies chased a goal to get them back into the game.
Jonjo Shelvey - 5
The weather severely limited his top attribute - his passing. The stand-in captain tried to play a few nice through balls along the ground, but the Magpies forwards weren't able to capitalise.
Gigi Wijnaldum - 5
Wijnaldum often looked for the ball and his quick footwork got the Magpies out of difficulty and helped build a few potential attacks in the first half. However, after receiving a booking near the end of the first 45, the Dutchman struggled to get into the game after the restart.
